Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu recently dropped by a weekly session aiming to boost grassroots participation amongst girls in the city.
Delivered by the Leeds United Foundation and running during the EFL Week of Action, girls from a local club were invited to Thorp Arch as part of the ongoing initiative, having a tour of the training ground and chatting with the Wales international.
Posing for photos and signing shirts, Ampadu also gave the youngsters advice on achieving their dreams, working hard and making sure they enjoy their football as they grow up.
Speaking at the event, the 24-year-old was keen to praise the work being done to help the children engage with the sport and the importance for the girls to have the access to such facilities.
“I remember being at their age and I remember having the opportunities to go and just play football with friends and enjoy it,” he told LUTV.
“At that age, it is where you start playing football and the reason you play football is because you enjoy it. So, for the girls there to be given this opportunity to be doing this weekly, as I said, with friends in their environment, to go and enjoy it is massive.”
The EFL Week of Action highlights the transformative power of football to make a difference in communities, showcasing work done by clubs regarding key topics like mental health, education, inclusion and providing opportunities.
Abigail Lee, Head of Development for Women and Girls at the Leeds United Foundation, added: “We engage with different grassroots organisations to try and grow their girls’ provision. It has been fantastic to be able to invite them down today. For the girls to see Ethan come into the session, you could tell they were star-struck and it is brilliant to see.
“This programme is all about participation and to get girls playing. It is trying to remove barriers, eliminate anything that can prevent girls playing football, so it is all about fundamentals, introducing them to the game and making them feel comfortable so they don’t fear football.
“They come to these sessions, they want to play and they want to get involved. Hopefully one day they can represent Leeds.”
More about the Leeds United Foundation’s work can be found HERE. More about the EFL Week of Action can be found HERE.
